Valve



June 23, 1931. M|LLER 1,811,418

VALVE Filed Jan. 17 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 /9 glwuemtoz attm mg June 23, 1931. I M. E. MILLER 1,811,418

' VALVE Filed Jan. 17 1950 2 Sl'ieets-Sheet 2 gwoentoo Patented June 23,1931

PATENT ()FFICE MICHAEL E. MILLER, OF HASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF CQLUMBIA VALVE Application filed January 17, 1930. Serial No. 421,550.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT (TE MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) "The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes with out payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to valves, more particularly to automatic, thermostatically controlled. valves adapted to regulate the flow of heating, cooling, or other liquid or fluid in a pipe line, and specifically to a valve adapt- 19 ed to be installed in the steam supply pipe of a radiator to control the flow of steam thereto, and that may be adjusted to automatically control the flow of steam to the radiator and maintain the enclosure in which the rad-iator is located, at a predetermined temperature.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive automatic valve, adapted to be installed in the steam supply line of a radiator, said valve -to be located within the enclosure to be heated by the radiator, and be operated thermostatically to control the flow of steam to the radi- I ator and maintain said inclosur-e at a desired temperature.

A further object is to provide a Valve of such a simple character as will permit of its quick adjustment, in a simple manner, when a permanent change or set, of the valve to raise or lower the temperature is desired.

These and other objects will appear in the following description and be finally pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that slight changes in form and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the claims.

WVhile a single embodiment of the invention is shown, numerous other applications of the improved valve will be obvious.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings in which: V

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of the improved valve and a portion of a radiator,

Fig. ,2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the improved thermostatically controlled valve.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line "33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line l-l of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a detail section of a fragment of a modified form of the combined reservoir and hand wheel.

Reference now being had to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the valve body having the inlet opening 2 adapted to be connected to the steam supply .pipe of a radiator, and an opening 3 adapted to be connected with the supply pipe of a radiator.

A screw threaded opening l in the top of the valve body is adapted to receive the lower end of a tubular chamber 6 having air opening 7, and an insulating lining 8, said lining having openings corresponding with those in the chamber, and it is through said openings that the room temperature reaches the contents of the bellows located inside the chamher, the blank side of the chamber with its interior insulation being toward the radiator to prevent operation of the valve due to direct heat from the radiator.

The tubular chamber 6 is threaded at its lower :end into the valve body, and is provided with a packing :box 9, packing 10, packing pressure spring 11, a packing gland 1.2, and an insulating disk 13 through which the valve stem is mounted for movement, chamber 6 is provided with a head 14, having notches 15 on its upper surface to be further explained.

The Valve stem is divided into upper and.

lower parts 17 and 18 respectively. The

upper piston member 17 is threaded in the head 14, extends into chamber 6 and into the upper end of a bellows 19, said bellows at its lower end, being connected to the upper end of the lower piston member 18, which is in turn slidably mounted in the packing box 9. On the lower end of stem 18, a valve disk 20 surrounded by a disk shield :21 is mounted and adapted to function with valve seat .22 arranged in the valve body between the inlet and outlet openings, to control the flow of steam through the valve.

The bellows 19 is mounted at its top on a flange 23, threaded on the stem 17 near its Klu - bellows member at its top.

lower end, said flange having an extension 24, on which nut is threaded. Sealingv washers 26 and 27 being arranged between the upper end of the extensioniof the and the interior of the nut and between the. lower face of the nut and the flange respectively with the inturned edge of the bellows therebetween adapted toelfectively seal the At its lower end the bellows has a sea ed connection with the stem member 18, t being a flange 28 threaded on the upper end of said stem member, anextension 29 of said flange on which nut 30 is threaded, and sealing washers 31 and 32 arranged between said extensioirand the nut, and

' flange respectively with the inturned edgeof the tube therebetween.

In the manner above described, the intenor of the bellows 1s positively sealed, and

'iprovides an expansible joint 1 between. the

adjacent ends of the valvev stem ine'n'ibers, the upper stem member 17 being threaded .into head 14, permits a rotary movement for forations 34 and 35in the valve stem members. I r r Upper valve stem member 17' is provided with fluid circulating passages 36 31161378 tending' longitudinally through the stem from end to end, passage 37 continuing through an extension 38 of a part of the lower end of the stem to provide openin s into the passages at different levels.

lvlounted on the upper endof upper stem member 17 is the combined reservoir and hand wheel 89, said reservoir consists-of a shell40 provided with ribs OP'PIOJBCUOHS 41,.

coveredby heat insulating material 42, the latter being cut away over air pockets betweenthe ribs 41. Said reservoir pro vided with a stem socket 44in which the upper end of stenimember 17 is seated and held" in place by set screw 45. An upward extension 46 projects from the 'top of the socket into the reservoir throughwhich, and adjacent thereto, areprovided fluid circulation passages 47 and 48 respectively, in communication at their upper ends withtlie interior of the reservoir at different levels, the function of said arrangementof opening will appear later.

7 As will be. seen by the drawings, thepcirthe nut and the 7 culation passages 47" and 48 in the reservoir and passages 36 and 37 of stem 17 arespaced thesame distance apart and are adapted to register with each other when set screw looks the upper end of stein 17 in socket 44, and establish communicating passages betweenfthe reservoir 89 and the bellows 19.

It will be noted that passage 47 enters the reservoir at a high level and is a continuation of passage 36 of the stem which opens into the bellows at a high level also. Passages 48 and 37 of the reservoir and stem respectively enter the reservoir and bellows at levels relatively lower than the passages 36 and -47 thus setting up a static head in the passages and inducing circulation ofthe flu1d52 111 the reservoir and bellows, the movement being upthroughpassages 36 and 47 and down through 48 an'd 37, the fluid 52 being preferably highly sensitive to changes in volume with changes of tempera ture such as kerosene or the like; The upper surfaeeof head 14 of lar chamber 6: is provlded with notches 15 adapted to be engaged by the lower end of .a snap bolt 53 yieldably mounted in the bore of a projection54 depending from the shell of the 'combinedreservoir and hand wheel, a pressure spring 55 confined in the bore in rear of the bolt tends to force the bolt into the notches and retain said combined reservoir, and hand wheel in its adjusted position. Notches 15 may bemarked' to indicate the'temperature at which the valve will automatically cut off the steam, thus providing means wherebythe valve may be set to maintain the room at" a predetermined temperature. 1 V

. A filling opening 56 closed'by plug 57 is provided at the top of the reservoir. 7 i

. Theoperation of the valve is as follows:

-After filling thebellows and reservoir with perature acting on the contents of the reservoir through its air pockets and shell and the action of the temperature of the room, "on the contents of the bellowsthrough the openings in its inc-losing chamber, said con tents will be'caused to expand and close the valve. If it is desired to raise the temperature of the room it is simply necessary toback off the valve disk for instance, to three-sixteenths of an inch from the valve seat, thus requiring a higher temperature and greater expansion of the contents of he reservoir and bellows to accomplish the closing of the valve and cutt ng off of the steam.

'I he modified form of reservoir and hand the tubuwheel shown in Fig. of the drawings provirdes n shell 58 -vdiich extend heat absorbing 59 adapted to a reservoir shell highly sensitive to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere and one that willreadi'ly transfer said temperature to the contents of the shell, and promptly close the valve when :the anaximann temperature desired has been reached.

Having thus described my invention what 1 :claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat 1. A device of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings, tor the how of temperature chang 7 ing fluid, apartition provided with a valve seat separating said openingsaa chamber open at one side "to atmospheric temperature and closed at its ends, mounted on said body with its axis in line with the axis of the valve seat, a valve 'adaipted'ito co-operate with said seat tocontrol the flow offiuid. said valve having a divided stem, connected by :a bellows, :a combined hand wheel ll l'l'l rerervon mounted on the stem, passages connesting the interior of the reservoir and bellows and an expansible fluid sealed in said last named parts and adapted to close the valve at a predetermined temperature substantially as and for the purposes specified.

'2. A device of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings, for the flow of temperature changing fluid, :a partition provided with a valve 0f fluid, said valve having stern members threaded through and slidably mounted in opposite ends of said chamber, a bellows connecting the adjacent ends of said stem members, a combined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on thevstem, passages connecting the interior oi the reservoir and bellows and an 'expans-ile l e fluid sealed said last named parts :and ad'apted to close the-valve at a predetermined temperature substantially and for the I purposes speci' lied,

3. A, device of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet andoutlet openings, tor the flow oi'temperature changingfluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a chamber open at one side to atmospheric temperature and closed at itsends, mounted on said body with its :axis in line with the axis of the valve seat, :a' valve adapted to co-operatewith said seat to control the flow of fluid, said valve having a lower stem member slidably mounted in the lower end of the chamber and an upper stem member threaded in the upper end of the ch Ll'IlbGI, a sealed bellows connecting the adjacent ends of the stem members, a combined reservoir, and hand wheel mounted on the upper end of the upper stem member passages connecting the interiorof the reservoir and the bellows and cxpansible fluid sealed in said last named parts and adapted to close the valve .at a predetermined temperature substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4-. A device. of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings for the flow of temperature changing fluid, apartition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a chamber insulated from external changes of temperature and having openings at one side for the admission of atmospheric tern perature to its interior, mounted on said valve body with its axis in line with the axis of said valve seat, a valve adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to control the flow of fluid, said valve having a dividing stem entering the chamber at opposite ends, a bellows connecting the adjacent ends of the divided stem within the chamber, a combined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on the stem adapted to set the valve to operate at different temperatures, passages connecting the interior of the reservoir and bellows and a highly expansible fluid, sealed in said last named parts substantially described.

A device of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet and out let openings for the flow of temperature changing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a closet chamber insulated from external atmospheric changes of temperature .and having a packing box at one end, a threaded opening at its other end, said openings at one side for the admission of atmospheric temperature to its interior mounted on said valve body with its axis in line with the axis of said valve seat, a valve adapted to co-opcrate with the valve seat to control the flow of fluid, said valve having a divided stem entering the chamber at opposite ends, a bellows connecting the adjacent ends of the divided stem within the chamber, a com- J ibined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on the stem adapted to set tne valve to operate at different temperatures, passages connecting the interiors of the reservoir and bellows and a highly expansible fluid sealed in said last named parts substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described com prising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings for the fiow of temperature changing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a closed chamber insulated from external atmospheric changes of temperature and having a packing box at one end, a threaded opening at'itsother end, said openings at one side for the admission of atmospheric temperature to its interior mounted on said valve body with its axis in line with the axis of said valve seat, a valve adapted to co-operate with the valve seat to' control the flow of fluid, saidvalve having a stem divided into two members entering the chamber at opposite ends, one of said members extending from said valve being slidably mounted for axial and rotary movement in said packing box, the other I 7 member being threaded through said threadeden'd, a bellows connect-ingxthe adjacent ondsjof the divided stem within the chamher, a combined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on the stem adapted to set the valve .to operate the different temperatures,

passagesconnecting the interiors of the res ervoir and bellows and a highly expansible fluid sealed in said last named partssubstantially as described.

7. A device of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet and outlet openings, for the flow of temperature changing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a chamber open at one side to atmospheric temperatureand closed at its ends, mounted on said body with its axis in line with the axis of the valve seat, a valve adapted to cooperate with said seat to control the flow of fluid,

said valve having stem members threaded through and shdably mountedin opposite ends of said chamber, a bellows connecting the, adjacent ends of said stem members, combined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on the stem having a shell, insulated ribs and air pockets adapted to transfer the exterior atmospheric temperature to the interior of the reservoir, and provide means for setting the valve, passages connecting the'interiors of thGTGSGIVOll and bellows and an expansihle fluid sealed in said last named parts adapted to close the valve at a predetermined temperature substantially as and for the purposes specified. o

8. A device of the class described comprising a valvebody having inlet and outlet openings, for the flow of temperature changing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a chamber openat one side to atmospheric temperature and'closed at its ends, mounted on said body with its axis in line with the axis of the valve seat, a valve adapted to co-operatewith said to control the flow of fluid, said valve having stem members threadedthrough and slidably mounted in opposite ends of said chamber, a bellows connecting the adjacent ends of said stem members,a combined hand wheel and reservoir: mounted on the stem having a shell, insulated ribs and'air. pockets adapted to transfer the exterlor atmospherictemperature to the interior of the; reservoir,

openings, for the flow of temperature chang ing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a chamber open at one'side to atmospheric temperature and closed at its ends, mounted on said body with its axis'in line with the axis of the valve seat, a valve adapted to co-operate with said seat tocontrol the flow'of fluid, said valve having stem members threadedthrough and slidably mountedin opposite ends of said chamber, a bellows connecting the adjacent "ends of said stem members, a combined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on the stem having a shell, insulated ribs and air pockets adapted to transfer the exterior atmospheric temperature to the interior of the reservoir, and provide means for setting thevalve, passages connecting theinteriors of the reservoir and bellows and an expansible fluid sealed in said last named parts, graduated notches arranged on theupper face of the chamber and a slip bolt mounted on the combined hand wheeland reservoirradapted to engage said notches and indicate the temperature at which the temperature changing fluidwill be cut oif. 1 x y I 10. A device of the class described comprising a valve body having inlet and-outlet openings, for the flow of temperature changing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings, a chamber" open at one side to atmospheric temperature and closed at'its ends, mounted on said body with its axisin line with the axis of the valve seat, .a valve adapted to co-operate with said seat to control the flow. of fluid, said valve having stem members threaded through and slidably mounted in opposite ends of said-chamber, a bellows connecting the-adjacent ends of said stem members,-a combinedhand wheel and reservoirmounted on thestem,:an expansible fluid sealed insaid reservoir and said bellows, and passagesxin the stem'connecting said parts entering same 1 at different levels and adapted to induce circulation between same, substantially as shown. 1 11. A device of the class described comprising a valve body havinginletand outlet openings, for the flow of temperature changing fluid, a partition provided with a valve seat separating said openings,a chamber open at one side to atmospheric temperature and closed at its.e'nds,'mounted on said body with its axis in line with the axis of the valve seat, a bellows :within said chainber, a valve adapted to co-operate with said seat to control the flow of fluid, said valve having a divided stem, the adjacent ends of itsmembers entering the bellows, a combined hand wheel and reservoir mounted on one of the stem members, extensions at the ends of said last mentioned stem member projecting'into the reservoir and bellows and 'passages entering through the stem, one

passing through the extension of the stem in the reservoir,'the other through its extension in the bellows, and entering said parts at dilferent levels, adapted to induce circulation of fluid between said parts due to static head, and an expansible fluid sealed in said reservoir and bellows, adapted to close the valve at a predetermined temperature substantially as described.

MICHAEL E. MILLER. 

